Evidence-based medicine: four fundamental problems with the randomized clinical trial (RCT) used to document chemical medicine.

Randomized clinical trials (RCT) have been accepted as the golden standard of testing, thus making chemical medicine "evidence based". The RCT is based on four assumptions: 1) The placebo effect is represented by a placebo pill, 2) it is possible to make a double-blind test with biologically active drugs, 3) beneficial and harmful effects of drugs are fairly measured in RCTs, and 4) an appropriate time frame for the test is used. We have found problems with these assumptions: 1) The placebo effect provided by close relationships to a physician is stronger than an inert pill, 2) double-blind tests cannot be made with biologically active drugs, as these leave an internal clue in the patient that destroys the blinding (active placebo), 3) lack of global outcome measures makes toxic effects invisible for the test and magnifies minor effects to make clinically insignificant positive effects look important, and 4) RCTs are used in such a brief time frame that side effects and harm are not properly detected.

Formal errors in non-pharmaceutical medicine (CAM): clinical medicine, mind-body medicine, body-psychotherapy, holistic medicine, clinical holistic medicine and sexology.

This paper identifies five formal errors in non-drug medicine including most types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). These are based on five central principles of healing from the curriculum of the EU master in complementary, psychosocial and integrated health sciences (EU-MSc-CAM) from the Interuniversity College in Graz, Austria. An error is defined, as a therapeutic intervention that judged from established scientific knowledge should have been done differently.

Which factors determine our quality of life, health and ability? Results from a Danish population sample and the Copenhagen perinatal cohort.

Objective: To examine the statistical associations between Global Quality of Life (QOL) and a series of indicators representing health, ability, philosophy of life, sexuality, quality of working life and other medically relevant aspects of life.

Design: Cross-sectional comparative study using the self-administered SEQOL questionnaire.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Quality of Life Research Center, the University Hospital Copenhagen, Denmark.

What influence do major events in life have on our later quality of life? A retrospective study on life events and associated emotions.

Background: To examine associations between global quality of life (QOL) and major life events.

Material/methods: This was a retrospective study using the self-administrated expanded SEQOL questionnaire with questions on life events and connected emotions. Seven hundred forty-six people, 55-66 years old, from a representative sample of the Danish population participated.

Quality of life and events in the first year of life. Results from the prospective Copenhagen Birth Cohort 1959-61.

The objective of this paper was to explore the association between diverse factors occurring during the first year of a child's life and the quality of life later as an adult. The design was a prospective cohort study based on material from the Copenhagen Birth Cohort 1959-61 with 7,222 participants and two sets of questionnaires used: one by a physician during the child's first year and one by the "adult child" 31-33 years later. The results showed that a mother's attitude towards her pregnancy, unsuccessful abortions, and/or institutionalization left a permanent trace on the child, since these children, as adults, have a quality of life 3% below the average.

The health and social situation of the mother during pregnancy and global quality of life of the child as an adult. Results from the prospective Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort 1959-1961.

A prospective cohort study (Copenhagen Perinatal Birth Cohort 1959-61) of 7,222 persons was used in order to explore the association between the social and health situation during pregnancy and the global quality of life (QOL) of the adult child 31-33 years later. Two sets of questionnaires were used with one filled out by physicians during pregnancy and one filled out by the adult children 31-33 years later. The questionnaires included mother's situation during pregnancy and global QOL of the child at follow-up: Well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment of needs, experience of life's temporal and spatial domains, expression of life's potentials and objective measures.

Events in pregnancy, delivery, and infancy and long-term effects on global quality of life: results from the Copenhagen Perinatal Birth Cohort 1959-61.

Background: To study causal associations between factors occurring during pregnancy, birth, and infancy and global quality of life (QOL) in adulthood 31-33 years later.

Material/methods: Prospective study from the Copenhagen Perinatal Birth Cohort 1959-61. Two sets of questionnaires, one filled out by physicians during pregnancy, birth, and infancy and a validated, self-administered questionnaire on global quality of life (QOL) filled out by the person 31-33 years later (7,222 people).

Clinical holistic medicine: mental disorders in a holistic perspective.

From a holistic perspective, psychiatric diseases are caused by the patient's unwillingness to assume responsibility for his life, existence, and personal relations. The loss of responsibility arises from the repression of the fundamental existential dimensions of the patients. Repression of love and purpose causes depersonalization (i.

Clinical holistic medicine: holistic treatment of mental disorders.

We believe that holistic medicine can be used for patients with mental health disorders. With holistic psychiatry, it is possible to help the mentally ill patient to heal existentially. As in holistic medicine, the methods are love or intense care, winning the trust of the patient, getting permission to give support and holding, and daring to be fully at the patient's service.

The life mission theory VII. Theory of existential (Antonovsky) coherence: a theory of quality of life, health, and ability for use in holistic medicine.

A theoretical framework of existential coherence is presented, explaining how health, quality of life (QOL), and the ability to function were originally created and developed to rehabilitate human life from an existential perspective. The theory is inspired by the work of Aaron Antonovsky and explains our surprising recent empirical findings -- that QOL, health, and ability primarily are determined by our consciousness. The theory is a matrix of nine key elements in five layers: (1) coherence; (2) purpose and talent; (3) consciousness, love, and physicality/sexuality; (4) light and joy; and (5) QOL/meaning of life.

Rationality and irrationality in Ryke Geerd Hamer's system for holistic treatment of metastatic cancer.

The aim of this paper is to examine if the "medical laws" found by the German physician Ryke Geerd Hamer are substantiated by contemporary holistic medical theory. He developed a psychosomatic theory after a personal emotional trauma that he believed resulted in his subsequent development of a testicular cancer. From our analysis, it is clear that the two most fundamental principles of Hamer's work, the psychosomatic "iron law of cancer" (Hamer's first "law") and the principle of pathogenesis being reversed into salutogenesis (Hamer's second "law"), are well-established principles of holistic medicine today.

A combination of gestalt therapy, Rosen Body Work, and Cranio Sacral therapy did not help in chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD)--results of a randomized clinical trial.

The chronic state of whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) might be understood as a somatization of existential pain. Intervention aimed to improve quality of life (QOL) seemed to be a solution for such situations. The basic idea behind the intervention was holistic, restoring quality of life and relationship with self, in order to diminish tension in the locomotion system, especially the neck.

The life mission theory VI. A theory for the human character: healing with holistic medicine through recovery of character and purpose of life.

The human character can be understood as an extension of the life mission or purpose of life, and explained as the primary tool of a person to impact others and express the purpose of life. Repression of the human character makes it impossible for a person to realize his personal mission in life and, therefore, is one of the primary causes of self-repression resulting in poor quality of life, health, and ability. From Hippocrates to Hahnemann, repression of physical, mental, and spiritual character can be seen as the prime cause of disease, while recovery of character has been the primary intention of the treatment.

Clinical holistic medicine: tools for a medical science based on consciousness.

Biomedicine focuses on the biochemistry of the body, while consciousness-based medicine--holistic medicine--focuses on the individual"s experiences and conscious whole (Greek: holos, whole). Biomedicine perceives diseases as mechanical errors at the micro level, while consciousness-based medicine perceives diseases as disturbances in attitudes, perceptions, and experiences at the macro level--in the organism as a whole. Thus, consciousness-based medicine is based on the whole individual, while biomedicine is based on its smallest parts, the molecules.

Clinical holistic medicine: a pilot study on HIV and quality of life and a suggested cure for HIV and AIDS.

This study was undertaken to examine the association between the immunological impact of HIV (measured by CD4 count) and global self-assessed quality of life (QOL) (measured with QOL1) for people suffering from HIV, to see if the connection was large and statistically strong enough to support our hypothesis of a strong QOL-immunological connection through the nonspecific, nonreceptor-mediated immune system, and thus to give a rationale for a holistic cure for HIV. This cross-sectional population study in Uganda included 20 HIV infected persons with no symptoms of AIDS and a CD4 count above 200 mill./liter.

Quality of life as medicine III. A qualitative analysis of the effect of a five-day intervention with existential holistic group therapy or a quality of life course as a modern rite of passage.

Existential group therapy seems to be a very efficient way of inducing the holistic state of healing, described in the holistic process theory of healing. We have designed a series of four quality of life (QOL) and health courses of 5-days duration called "Philosophy of Life that Heals--Courses in QOL and Personal Development". The four courses are meant to be taken over four consecutive years.

Holistic medicine IV: principles of existential holistic group therapy and the holistic process of healing in a group setting.

In existential holistic group therapy, the whole person heals in accordance with the holistic process theory and the life mission theory. Existential group psychotherapy addresses the emotional aspect of the human mind related to death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness, while existential holistic group therapy addresses the state of the person"s wholeness. This includes the body, the person's philosophy of life, and often also love, purpose of life, and the spiritual dimension, to the same extent as it addresses the emotional psyche and sexuality, and it is thus much broader than traditional psychotherapy.

The life mission theory V. Theory of the anti-self (the shadow) or the evil side of man.

According to the life mission theory, the essence of man is his purpose of life, which comes into existence at conception. This first purpose is always positive and in support of life. This is not in accordance with the everyday experience that man also engages in evil enterprises born out of destructive intentions.

The life mission theory III. Theory of talent.

When we acknowledge our purpose as the essence of our self, when we take all our power into use in an effortless way, and when we fully accept our own nature--including sex and sexuality, our purpose of life takes the form of a unique talent. Using this talent gives the experience of happiness. A person in his natural state of being uses his core talent in a conscious, joyful, and effortless way, contributing to the world the best he or she has to offer.

The life mission theory II. The structure of the life purpose and the ego.

Pursuing your life mission is often very difficult, and many frustrations are experienced along the way. Major failures to bring out our potential can cause us considerable emotional pain. When this pain is unbearable, we are induced to shift from one intention and talent to another that better allows us to adapt and survive.

Holistic medicine III: the holistic process theory of healing.

It is possible to understand the process of healing from a holistic perspective. According to the life mission theory, we can stretch our existence and lower our quality of life when we are in crises, to survive and adapt, and we can relax to increase our quality of life when we later have resources for healing. The holistic process theory explains how this healing comes about: Healing happens in a state of consciousness exactly opposite to the state of crises.

Quality of life philosophy VI. The concepts.

The about a hundred central concepts related to research in the global quality of life can, in a holistic medical frame of interpretation, be organized under ten abstract key concepts: existence, creation of the world, state of being, daily living, talents, relations, sex, health, personal development, and therapy with subthemes as discussed in this paper. The paper shows that the concepts in each group can be seen as related to each other in a quite intuitive and logical way, to give a coherent quality of life philosophy that allows the physician to encourage, inspire, and support his patient. In every consultation, one new concept and idea of existence can be taught to the patient, helping him or her to realize the meaning of life, the source of joy, and the reason for the actual suffering.

Quality of life philosophy V. Seizing the meaning of life and becoming well again.

This paper presents a positive philosophy of life developed to support and inspire patients to take more responsibility for their own lives and to draw more efficiently on their known or hidden resources. The idea is that everybody can become wiser, use themselves better, and thus improve quality of life, subjective health, and the ability to function. To be responsible means to see yourself as the cause of your own existence and state of being.

Quality of life philosophy IV. The brain and consciousness.

In this article we look at the brain's structure and function from a philosophical perspective. Although the brain at micro-level, with its trillions of ultra-thin nerve fibers, is one of the most complicated structures in the known universe, you can still grasp its composition if you go up to the level of the cell. How this structure functions is not quite clear.